IP Library Patent Application 15884842
Patent Application
App. No. 15/884,842

DISTRACTED DRIVING DETECTOR

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US None
App. No.
15/884,842
Abstract

Methods and apparatus for detecting a distracted user condition. In embodiments, a handheld device, such as a mobile phone, includes a distraction detection module to process sensor data and/or user date to generate a score indicative of whether the user is distracted, such as texting and driving. In embodiments, a keyboard of the device can be disabled upon detection of a distracted user condition.

Claims (40)

1 . A method, comprising:

receiving sensor information including GPS data to determine whether a computing device under control of a user is moving relative to Earth surface;

receiving sensor information including vibration levels of the device;

receiving sensor information including angle orientation information for the device;

receiving sensor information including first camera information for the device to detect at least one of user head and eye movement;

processing the sensor information to determine a score corresponding to a likelihood of a distracted user condition; and

communicating with a keyboard module of the device to modify at least one setting for operation of a keyboard controlled by the keyboard module, the communicating including providing the keyboard module with at least one of (i) an indication of a distracted user condition (ii) the score corresponding to the likelihood of a distracted user condition.

2 . The method according to claim 1 , further including receiving sensor information including data from a first camera of the device and processing eye movement of the user.

3 . The method according to claim 1 , further including receiving sensor information including touch and type information for a user typing on the keyboard of the device.

4 . The method according to claim 3 , further including processing the touch and type information to determine whether the user is one-hand typing or two-hand typing on the keyboard.

5 . The method according to claim 3 , further including processing the touch and type information for error rate comparison.

6 . The method according to claim 3 , further including processing the touch and type information for finger surface area on the keyboard.

7 . The method according to claim 3 , further including processing the touch and type information for speed of typing comparison.

8 . The method according to claim 1 , further including processing historical driving information for the user including time of day historical driving information.

9 . The method according to claim 1 , further including receiving sensor information including local wireless connection information.

10 . The method according to claim 1 , further including receiving sensor information including second camera information from the device that includes light level.

11 . The method according to claim 1 , further including receiving sensor information including data from a proximity sensor of the device.

12 . The method according to claim 1 , further including receiving sensor information including data from a light sensor of the device.

13 . The method according to claim 1 , further including receiving sensor information including data for a number of other nearby devices.

14 . The method according to claim 1 , further including receiving sensor information including acoustic information detected by the device to determine a number of persons in a vehicle.

15 . The method according to claim 1 , further including receiving sensor information including face and behavior information of the user.

16 . The method according to claim 1 , further including generating a signal for an audible alert corresponding to the score corresponding to a likelihood of a distracted user condition being above a selected threshold.

17 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein modifying at least one setting for operation of a keyboard controlled by the keyboard module including disabling the keyboard.

18 . An article, comprising:

a non-transitory computer-readable medium having stored instructions that enable a machine to perform:

receiving sensor information including GPS data to determine whether a computing device under control of a user is moving relative to Earth surface;

receiving sensor information including vibration levels of the device;

receiving sensor information including angle orientation information for the device;

receiving sensor information including first camera information for the device to detect at least one of user head and eye movement;

processing the sensor information to determine a score corresponding to a likelihood of a distracted user condition; and

communicating with a keyboard module of the device to modify at least one setting for operation of a keyboard controlled by the keyboard module, the communicating including providing the keyboard module with at least one of (i) an indication of a distracted user condition and (ii) the score corresponding to the likelihood of a distracted user condition.

19 . A device, comprising:

a processor and a memory, the processor being configured to:

receiving sensor information including GPS data to determine whether the device is moving relative to Earth surface;

receiving sensor information including vibration levels of the device;

receiving sensor information including angle orientation information for the device;

receiving sensor information including first camera information for the device to detect at least one of user head and eye movement;

generating a score corresponding to a likelihood of a distracted user condition based on the received sensor information; and

in response to detecting that the score corresponding to the likelihood of a distracted user condition exceeds a threshold, providing a keyboard module with at least one of (i) an indication of a distracted user condition and (ii) the score corresponding to the likelihood of a distracted user condition,

wherein the keyboard module is configured to modify at least one setting for operation of a keyboard controlled by the keyboard module based on the score corresponding to the likelihood of a distracted user condition.

Assignments (8)
RELEASE (REEL 052935 / FRAME 0584) Recorded Jan 2, 2025
From: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
To: CERENCE OPERATING COMPANY
Reel/Frame 069797/0818 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE REPLACE THE CONVEYANCE DOCUMENT WITH THE NEW ASSIGNMENT PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 050836 FRAME: 0191. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT. Recorded Apr 19, 2022
From: NUANCE COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
To: CERENCE OPERATING COMPANY
Reel/Frame 059804/0186 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jun 15, 2020
From: CERENCE OPERATING COMPANY
To: WELLS FARGO BANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 052935/0584 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 12, 2020
From: BARCLAYS BANK PLC
To: CERENCE OPERATING COMPANY
Reel/Frame 052927/0335 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Nov 7, 2019
From: CERENCE OPERATING COMPANY
To: BARCLAYS BANK PLC
Reel/Frame 050953/0133 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE ASSIGNEE NAME PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 050836 FRAME: 0191. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY AGREEMENT. Recorded Oct 29, 2019
From: NUANCE COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
To: CERENCE OPERATING COMPANY
Reel/Frame 050871/0001 →
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY AGREEMENT Recorded Oct 23, 2019
From: NUANCE COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
To: CERENCE INC.
Reel/Frame 050836/0191 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 15, 2018
From: FIRIK, MUSTAFA; IANNOTTI, VINCENZO A.
To: NUANCE COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 045236/0285 →